Carl's Jr. and Hardee's Continue to Salute Military Families and Communities Through Fundraising Efforts

CARPINTERIA, Calif. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - CKE Restaurants, Inc., parent company to Carl’s Jr.® and Hardee’s® restaurant chains, raised more than $750,000 for military families and communities through its three-week Stars for Heroes in-store fundraising campaign and plans to continue fundraising efforts online and through regional and national promotions over the remainder of the year. Funds raised during this year’s campaign will assist “military heroes” through national charity partnerships with The Mission Continues and USA Cares, as well as through select regional charities with the same mission and ties to Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurant communities.

“We’re confident that our customers will continue their generosity through supporting our charity beneficiaries and continued fundraising efforts both online and off, in order to make an even more impactful difference in the lives of military members and their families.”Following a successful inaugural program, the 2012 campaign again harnessed the national reach of both brands and the generosity of its customers, franchisees, company employees and corporate partners to rally behind the patriotic cause. The Stars for Heroes fundraising campaign kicked off in stores in late April, running for three weeks. To participate, restaurant guests donated $1 in support of military charities. For each $1 donation, guests received a commemorative patriotic star-shaped cut out to personalize and place on display in the restaurant. They also received restaurant coupons valued at more than $10 to use toward future purchases.

While the 2012 in-store fundraiser concluded in May, consumers are able to continue backing the nation’s military communities through a special FundRazr donation page which will be housed on the Stars for Heroes Facebook page and promoted via Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s social media channels.

Additionally, the chains hope to encourage additional support through a special eBay auction. Comic fans and philanthropists alike have the opportunity to bid on two of the official movie posters for Columbia Pictures’ release, The Amazing Spider-Man, coming to theaters in 3D July 3, autographed by iconic Spider-Man creator, Stan Lee. A certificate of authenticity is included with each and 100% of the winning bids will be donated to Stars for Heroes national beneficiaries, The Mission Continues and USA Cares. The auctions can be founds at http://www.ebay.com/itm/STAN-LEE-autographed-framed-Amazing-Spider-Man-movie-poster-CHARITY-AUCTION-/320937618140?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab95f6adc#ht_720wt_1396 and http://www.ebay.com/itm/STAN-LEE-autographed-framed-Amazing-Spider-Man-movie-poster-CHARITY-AUCTION-/320937616648#ht_720wt_1396.

“The generosity of our loyal customers and company employees is evident through the patriotic stars that filled our restaurant walls during the in-store fundraising campaign,” said Bryan Haas, president of the Independent Hardee’s Franchise Association (IHFA). “We are excited to see the patriotic support of Stars for Heroes continue with the addition of an online donation element, harnessing the power of social networking – and the Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. Facebook fan communities – for a good cause.”

“We’re pleased with the success of the Stars for Heroes in-store fundraising efforts and are proud of the funds raised thus-far. However, our commitment to and support of the nation’s military families and communities isn’t a one-time or one-month effort. It’s an ongoing cause,” said Daljit Hundal, president of the Star Franchise Association (SFA). “We’re confident that our customers will continue their generosity through supporting our charity beneficiaries and continued fundraising efforts both online and off, in order to make an even more impactful difference in the lives of military members and their families.”

Together with Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s stores, as well as the IHFA and SFA, the Stars for Heroes fundraising campaign has raised close to $2 million for military families, communities and veterans since it’s creation in 2011. In addition to support from the franchisees, the Stars for Heroes campaign is successful due to generous contributions from corporate partners such as Archway (formerly Synq Solutions). Archway has donated materials valued at more than $250,000 over the two years of the Stars for Heroes fundraising campaign.

“We are honored to continue to support the Stars for Heroes’ program by providing marketing materials and other supplies to help spread the word to consumers and give back to the military cause,” said Simon Meachin, vice president of retail at Archway. “It makes us proud to see Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. restaurant windows and walls filled with patriotic stars, knowing that we have a part in the cause and that powerful visual display.”

Originally called Stars for Troops in its inaugural year, the fundraising campaign name was officially changed to Stars for Heroes in January 2012 in order to more clearly convey CKE’s commitment to active military, veterans and military families, all of who are heroes.

For more information or to donate to the campaign, visit Stars for Heroes on Facebook at www.facebook.com/StarsforHeroes. To learn more about the Stars for Heroes national beneficiaries, visit their websites at www.missioncontinues.org and www.usacares.org.

About CKE Restaurants

CKE Restaurants, Inc. is a privately held company headquartered in Carpinteria, Calif. As of the end of Q1 2013, the Company, through its subsidiaries, had a total of 3,263 franchised, licensed or company-operated restaurants in 42 states and in 25 countries, including 1,322 Carl's Jr. restaurants and 1,932 Hardee's restaurants. For more information about CKE Restaurants, please visit www.ckr.com or its brand sites at www.carlsjr.com and www.hardees.com.

About The Mission Continues

The Mission Continues challenges veterans to serve and lead in communities across America. The organization was founded by former US Navy SEAL Eric Greitens in 2007 when he returned from his final deployment to Iraq, fueled by the deep belief that veterans are civic assets. The Mission Continues offers six-month community service fellowships to veterans, awarding over 350 fellowships to date. The organization does not offer charity; rather, it challenges returning service members to utilize their tremendous skills and leadership to continue serving our country at home. For more information, please visit http://www.missioncontinues.org.

About USA Cares

USA Cares, Inc. is a Kentucky-based national nonprofit that gives financial and advocacy support to post-9/11 military and their families as they move back into private life. With donations from the American public, USA Cares assists by giving grants when military families hit financial hardships caused by their service to our nation. USA Cares operates four core programs that address all critical needs affected by re-integration: Jobs for Vets, Housing Assistance, Warrior Treatment Today (for PTSD/TBI victims) and Basic Living Needs. Military families anywhere in America can apply for assistance through the USA Cares website, http://www.usacares.org or by calling 1-800-773-0387. For more information on USA Cares contact Bob Belknap, bob.belknap@usacares.org or (270) 352-5451.

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